15 Online College Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 5
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 1
Online college summer programs for high school students provide an affordable way to experience college-level academics, build practical skills, and gain industry exposure. These virtual programs, including internships and university-hosted courses, cover subjects like STEM, humanities, and social sciences. Many offer for-credit courses recorded on official transcripts, along with tutoring and college-prep resources. Some also provide networking opportunities with faculty and industry professionals. Students interested in psychology can explore online programs that offer coursework, research, and mentorship. To help you choose, we’ve curated 15 top online college summer programs for high school students based on rigor, networking potential, funding, selectivity, and prestige.
Cost: $3,080 (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 9
Duration: 2 weeks
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27 (Session 1), July 7 – July 18 (Session 2)
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer over 70 online courses where you can explore advanced topics not typically covered in high school. You’ll attend live classes Monday through Friday and complete daily assignments to prepare for the next session. Courses range from engineering and computer science to philosophy, art, and social justice. You’ll work on hands-on projects, collaborate with peers, and get feedback from instructors. Some courses include opportunities to present your work or engage with professionals in the field. The program emphasizes active learning, mentorship, and connecting with a diverse group of students from around the world. You can learn more about admissions here.
Cost: $4,050 (4 credits), $7,900 (8 credits) + $75 application fee (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: April 9
Duration: 7 weeks
Program Dates: June 21 – August 9
Harvard’s 7-Week Secondary School Program (SSP) Online lets you choose from over 200 college-level courses and earn college credit. You can take up to two graded courses and experience the pace and expectations of college work. Courses are taught by Harvard instructors and include regular assignments, discussions, and exams. You’ll have access to academic support like tutoring and the Writing Center, as well as optional college readiness workshops. Virtual social activities help you connect with other students outside of class. A separate 4-week option is available, but it requires living on campus.
Cost: $2,810( 1 week), $3,960 (2 weeks)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: April 2
Duration: 1 – 2 weeks
Program Dates: Varies based on session
Columbia University’s Online Summer Program offers over 40 courses in 1- and 2-week sessions. You’ll attend live classes Monday through Friday and take part in discussions, group projects, and interactive workshops. Courses cover a range of subjects and emphasize critical thinking and collaboration. If you join the 2-week session, you can also participate in the Columbia Writers Academy to develop your writing and work on college application essays. Classes are taught by Columbia instructors and give you a chance to explore topics in depth.
Cost: Varies by program (scholarships available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 9
Duration: 1 – 6 weeks (depending on program)
Program Dates: Varies
Brown Pre-College offers over 300 online courses in areas like STEM, law, creative writing, and history. You can choose from a range of programs based on your interests and academic goals. Options include the Leadership Institute, a 4-week program focused on social justice, and the Pre-Baccalaureate program for rising or recently graduated seniors looking for a more rigorous experience. Summer@Brown Online provides flexible course formats that mirror the pace of college-level learning. Courses emphasize discussion, writing, and independent work. You’ll engage with complex topics and connect with peers in a structured academic environment.
Cost: Varies (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: 4 weeks
Program Dates: May 26 – June 27 (Session A), June 30 – August 1 (Session B)
Yale’s Online Pre-College Program offers college-level courses in a virtual format for high school students. You’ll need to submit an application, your high school transcript, and two letters of recommendation. The courses are academically intensive and designed to reflect the pace of Yale’s undergraduate programs. Not all courses are open to pre-college students, so it’s important to check course descriptions before applying. The program emphasizes independent study, critical thinking, and active participation.
Cost: $1,795 (scholarships available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines depending on the cohort
Duration: 1-, 2-, or 7- week
Program Dates: Varies
Dartmouth’s Pre-College Online Program offers year-round courses in business and STEM for high school students. Topics include investing, market research, psychology, regenerative medicine, and systems biology. Courses are self-paced and delivered through video lessons, with opportunities to connect with mentors. You’ll work on a final capstone project that applies what you’ve learned. Each course ends with a Certificate of Completion from Dartmouth.
You can start the guided application process here.
Cost: $615 (per unit)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: June 2
Duration: Varies based on session
Program Dates: Varies
UC Berkeley’s Pre-College Virtual Program offers a range of synchronous and asynchronous courses across different subjects. You’ll need to confirm that your chosen course is open to high school students before enrolling. Courses carry college credit and include access to virtual mentorship and college preparation workshops. After completing a course, you can request an official Berkeley transcript. Students may also receive a letter of recommendation from the Dean of Extended Education. The program is designed to give you experience with college-level academics in a flexible online format.
Cost: Varies by course and format (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Duration: 1-, 2-, or 7- week
Program Dates: Varies
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s Online Programs are designed for academically advanced high school students. You can choose from live, session-based, or self-paced courses in subjects like computer science, history, language arts, mathematics, science, and engineering. Courses involve reading, writing, problem-solving, and independent assignments, with guidance from instructors familiar with advanced learners. The format you choose will determine how often you meet and how assignments are structured. Program costs and schedules vary by course and are listed on the website. These courses are designed to reflect a faster pace and higher level of academic expectation than most high school classes.
Cost: $1,840 per credit (financial assistance available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Duration: 3- and 6-weeks
Program Dates: Varies
Cornell’s Precollege Summer Session offers both synchronous and asynchronous courses for high school students. You’ll earn graded college credit, recorded on an official Cornell transcript, which may be transferable to other institutions. Courses are offered across four sessions—three lasting three weeks and one lasting six weeks. Class formats and workloads vary by course, so it’s important to review details before enrolling. The program is designed to reflect the pace and expectations of college-level study. Dates and additional information are available on the program website.
Cost: $1,795 (scholarships available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: 1 – 4 weeks
Program Dates: Varies
Northwestern’s Pre-College Online Program offers courses in subjects like law, medical research, psychology, business, engineering, and the business of sports. Courses run year-round and include video lessons, interactive tools, and mentor guidance. Each course ends with a Final Capstone project that draws on the material covered. You can choose from 1-, 2-, or 4-week formats depending on the session, though the course content stays the same. The program is structured to reflect the pace and expectations of college-level work. Details about course timing and availability are listed on the program website.
Cost: Varies by course (scholarships available)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 1 (Session A & B), June 1 (Session C & D)
Duration: 3 – 10 weeks
Program Dates: Varies
UCLA’s Summer Online program offers for-credit, graded college courses that high school students can take virtually. Upon completion, you’ll receive an official UCLA academic transcript. The Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE) is a six-week scholarship program for students from economically under-resourced communities. BASE includes one Summer Online course, mentorship from a UCLA undergraduate, and access to co-curricular workshops. Both programs are designed to reflect college-level expectations and pacing. Course offerings and eligibility details are available on the program website.
Cost: $8,248 (1 credit), $13,448 (2 credits)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: 5 weeks
Program Dates: May 27 - July 2 (Session I), July 3 - August 8 (Session II)
The University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Program gives high school students the chance to take online undergraduate courses for credit. You can choose one- or two-credit classes across two sessions, each with its own schedule and structure. These courses are designed to reflect the pace and expectations of college academics, and you’ll earn an official Penn transcript upon completion. Penn also offers online seminars, three-week, non-credit programs that explore interdisciplinary topics through case studies, group discussions, and independent work. These seminars are designed to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills in real-world contexts.
Cost: $1,495
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: 2- and 4-weeks
Program Dates: Varies
William & Mary’s Pre-College Online Program gives you the chance to explore subjects like constitutional law, medicine, psychology, and entrepreneurship in a flexible, virtual format. Courses are available year-round and include video lectures, interactive content, and assignments you can complete at your own pace. Throughout the program, you’ll be paired with a mentor who offers feedback and guidance as you move through the material. Each course concludes with a capstone project that applies what you’ve learned to a real-world question or challenge. While the courses are non-credit, you’ll receive a certificate of completion from the university.
Cost: $1,200 (1 credit)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies based on block
Duration: 3 – 10 weeks
Program Dates: May – August
Rice’s Summer Scholars Program provides high school students with the opportunity to take courses across a variety of fields. This includes business, engineering, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and math. With six summer "blocks" available, you can select the schedule that fits your availability. Courses are designed to engage students in college-level material while encouraging critical thinking and academic growth. The program offers a flexible structure, allowing you to explore different academic areas and gain exposure to university-level coursework. You can explore the summer course catalog here.
15. MITx Online
Cost: Free (certificate available for a fee)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies by course; none if self-paced
Duration: 3 – 16 weeks; flexible if self-paced
Program Dates: Varies by course; flexible if self-paced
MITx Online provides high school students with access to the same rigorous, high-quality content that is offered to MIT’s on-campus students. You can choose from a wide range of courses, with the option to take them for free or earn a certificate for a fee, depending on your goals. The courses are offered in both self-paced and instructor-paced formats, providing flexibility to fit different learning preferences and schedules. Each course is designed to challenge students with MIT’s renowned curriculum, covering topics from engineering and computer science to business and humanities. As you progress, you’ll engage with interactive assignments, discussions, and assessments that reflect MIT’s academic standards.
You can check out the course catalog here.
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions with multiple start dates throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 (accredited options require age 14+)
Dates: Flexible scheduling based on your availability
The Online Research Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct research with tutors from Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League universities. You will work with your tutor to explore a subject of your choice in depth and write an academic research paper. The program is offered in 1:1 and small group formats, and you can choose to receive college credit. The ORP is offered in over 20 subjects, including artificial intelligence, chemistry, psychology, economics, computer science, creative writing, philosophy, and more. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your tutor, an opportunity to publish your research, and an invitation to present at the Immerse Online Symposium. You can find more details about the application here.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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